Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

This image receiving apparatus includes a communication portion capable
of receiving content through a network, and a control portion controlling
a menu display region on which a menu of the content is displayed and a
content display region on which information of the content is displayed
independently from each other and controlling a display portion to
display the menu display region and the content display region.

Claims:

1. An image receiving apparatus comprising: a communication portion
capable of receiving content through a network; and a control portion
controlling a menu display region on which a menu of said content is
displayed and a content display region on which information of said
content is displayed independently from each other and controlling a
display portion to display said menu display region and said content
display region.

2. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
control portion is formed to display said menu display region and said
content display region on said display portion, enlarging or reducing a
size of said menu display region and a size of said content display
region independently from each other.

3. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
control portion is formed to cause said content display region to emerge
gradually while enlarging the size of said content display region and
display updated information of said content on said content display
region when said updated information of said content is received.

4. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
control portion is formed to arrange either said menu display region or
said content display region on a side of said display portion while
arranging either said content display region or said menu display region
on an upper side or a lower side of said display portion, and display
said menu display region and said content display region on said display
portion, enlarging or reducing a length of said menu display region
protruding from an end side of said display portion and a length of said
content display region protruding from an end side of said display
portion independently from each other.

5. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said
control portion is formed to arrange said menu display region on said
side of said display portion while arranging said content display region
on said upper side or said lower side of said display portion, and
display said menu display region and said content display region on said
display portion, enlarging or reducing a length of said menu display
region protruding from said side of said display portion and a length of
said content display region protruding from said upper side or said lower
side of said display portion independently from each other.

6. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said
control portion is formed to arrange said menu display region to extend
in a longitudinal direction along said side of said display portion and
arrange said content display region to extend in a transverse direction
along said upper side or said lower side of said display portion while
controlling said menu display region and said content display region
independently from each other.

7. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
control portion is formed to control said menu display region and said
content display region independently from each other so as to display
said menu display region, reducing the size of said menu display region
while not displaying said content display region in a standby state after
a function of viewing said content is run on the basis of a user's
operation.

8. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said
control portion is formed to control said menu display region and said
content display region independently from each other so as to maintain a
state of displaying said menu display region, reducing the size of said
menu display region while enlarging the size of said content display
region to display said content when said standby state changes to a state
where said information of said content can be viewed on the basis of a
user's operation or receipt of updated information of said content.

9. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said
control portion is formed to inform a user that updated information of
said content has been received by displaying that on said display portion
before said standby state changes to said state where said information of
said content can be viewed, when said information of said content is
updated.

10. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said
control portion is formed to control said menu display region and said
content display region independently from each other so as to display
said menu, enlarging the size of said menu display region while not
displaying said content display region when said standby state changes to
a state of mode selection for changing viewed said content on the basis
of a user's operation.

11. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said
control portion is so formed that a user can select whether to display
said information of said content in order from the newest one or the
oldest one in said state of mode selection.

12. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said
control portion is formed to control said menu display region and said
content display region independently from each other so as to display
said menu, enlarging the size of said menu display region and display
said information of said content, enlarging the size of said content
display region when either said state where said information of said
content can be viewed or said state of mode selection changes to a state
of displaying both said menu and said information of said content on the
basis of a user's operation.

13. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said
control portion is formed to control said menu display region and said
content display region independently from each other so as to display
said information of said content, enlarging said content display region
to an entire display region of said display portion other than said menu
display region when said state of displaying both said menu and said
content changes to a state of displaying said menu display region and
said content display region full-screen on the basis of a user's
operation.

14. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
control portion is formed to control said menu display region and said
content display region independently from each other so as to change a
screen to a state of displaying said menu display region, reducing a size
of said menu display region or a state of displaying said menu, enlarging
a size of said menu display region and change a state of not displaying
said content display region or a state of displaying said information of
said content, enlarging the size of said content display region when
there is no user's operation for a certain period of time.

15. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said
control portion is formed to reduce said menu display region or said
content display region gradually when a screen changes to said state of
displaying said menu display region, reducing the size of said menu
display region or said state of not displaying said content display
region, in a case where there is no user's operation for a certain period
of time.

16. A liquid crystal television set comprising: a receiving portion for
receiving a television broadcast signal; a display portion displaying an
image of said television broadcast; a communication portion capable of
receiving content through a network; and a control portion controlling a
menu display region on which a menu of said content is displayed and a
content display region on which information of said content is displayed
independently from each other and controlling said display portion to
display said menu display region and said content display region.

17. The liquid crystal television set according to claim 16, wherein said
control portion is formed to display said menu display region and said
content display region on said display portion, enlarging or reducing a
size of said menu display region and a size of said content display
region independently from each other.

18. The liquid crystal television set according to claim 17, wherein said
control portion is formed to cause said content display region to emerge
gradually while enlarging the size of said content display region and
display updated information of said content on said content display
region when said updated information of said content is received.

19. The liquid crystal television set according to claim 17, wherein said
control portion is formed to arrange either said menu display region or
said content display region on a side of said display portion while
arranging either said content display region or said menu display region
on an upper side or a lower side of said display portion, and display
said menu display region and said content display region on said display
portion, enlarging or reducing a length of said menu display region
protruding from an end side of said display portion and a length of said
content display region protruding from an end side of said display
portion independently from each other.

20. The liquid crystal television set according to claim 19, wherein said
control portion is formed to arrange said menu display region on said
side of said display portion while arranging said content display region
on said upper side or said lower side of said display portion, and
display said menu display region and said content display region on said
display portion, enlarging or reducing a length of said menu display
region protruding from said side of said display portion and a length of
said content display region protruding from said upper side or said lower
side of said display portion independently from each other.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an image receiving apparatus and a
liquid crystal television set, and more particularly, it relates to an
image receiving apparatus and a liquid crystal television set each
comprising a control portion displaying a content display region on which
content is displayed.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] In general, an image receiving apparatus comprising a control
portion displaying a content display region on which content is displayed
is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-294907 (1998), for
example.

[0005] The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-294907 (1998)
discloses a receiving apparatus (image receiving apparatus) comprising a
control portion displaying an image, menu icons (content) and textual
information (information of the content) corresponding to the menu icons
on a screen. In this receiving apparatus, a user operates an access
button provided on a remote control, whereby the size of the image
displayed on the screen is reduced, and the menu icons are displayed on
blank space (content display region) with no image displayed. Then, the
user operates cursor buttons and a decision button provided on the remote
control, whereby a desired menu icon among the menu icons displayed on
the screen is selected and decided to display textual information
corresponding to the desired menu icon on the blank space.

[0006] In the receiving apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese
Patent Laying-Open No. 10-294907 (1998), however, the user must operate
the access button provided on the remote control to display the menu
icons and further operate the cursor buttons and the decision button to
select and decide the menu icon in order to display the textual
information, and hence the operation for displaying the textual
information (the information of the content) is disadvantageously
complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the
aforementioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to
provide an image receiving apparatus and a liquid crystal television set
each capable of inhibiting the operation for displaying information of
content from complication.

[0008] An image receiving apparatus according to a first aspect of the
present invention comprises a communication portion capable of receiving
content through a network, and a control portion controlling a menu
display region on which a menu of the content is displayed and a content
display region on which information of the content is displayed
independently from each other and controlling a display portion to
display the menu display region and the content display region.

[0009] As hereinabove described, the image receiving apparatus according
to the first aspect is provided with the control portion controlling the
menu display region on which the menu of the content is displayed and the
content display region on which the information of the content is
displayed independently from each other and controlling the display
portion to display the menu display region and the content display
region, whereby the information of the content can be displayed without
displaying the menu by the control portion, and hence the operation for
displaying the information of the content can be inhibited from
complication, dissimilarly to a case where the information of the content
is displayed through the menu display region.

[0010] In the aforementioned image receiving apparatus according to the
first aspect, the control portion is preferably formed to display the
menu display region and the content display region on the display
portion, enlarging or reducing a size of the menu display region and a
size of the content display region independently from each other.
According to this structure, the menu display region and the content
display region can be enlarged or reduced separately depending on whether
the menu or the information of the content is displayed, dissimilarly to
a case where the menu display region and the content display region are
enlarged or reduced simultaneously.

[0011] In this case, the control portion is preferably formed to cause the
content display region to emerge gradually while enlarging the size of
the content display region and display updated information of the content
on the content display region when the updated information of the content
is received. According to this structure, the content display region
dynamically emerges, and hence the content display region can be
displayed prominently. Thus, a user can more easily recognize update of
the information of the content.

[0012] In the aforementioned image receiving apparatus formed to display
the menu display region and the content display region on the display
portion, enlarging or reducing the size of the menu display region and
the size of the content display region independently from each other, the
control portion is preferably formed to arrange either the menu display
region or the content display region on a side of the display portion
while arranging either the content display region or the menu display
region on an upper side or a lower side of the display portion, and
display the menu display region and the content display region on the
display portion, enlarging or reducing a length of the menu display
region protruding from an end side of the display portion and a length of
the content display region protruding from an end side of the display
portion independently from each other. According to this structure, the
menu display region and the content display region are arranged along the
end side of the display portion, and hence a central portion of an image
displayed on the display portion can be inhibited from being hidden by
the menu display region and the content display region. The length of the
menu display region protruding from the end side of the display portion
and the length of the content display region protruding from the end side
of the display portion can be enlarged or reduced separately depending on
whether the menu or the information of the content is displayed,
dissimilarly to a case where the length of the menu display region
protruding from the end side of the display portion and the length of the
content display region protruding from the end side of the display
portion are enlarged or reduced simultaneously.

[0013] In this case, the control portion is preferably formed to arrange
the menu display region on the side of the display portion while
arranging the content display region on the upper side or the lower side
of the display portion, and display the menu display region and the
content display region on the display portion, enlarging or reducing a
length of the menu display region protruding from the side of the display
portion and a length of the content display region protruding from the
upper side or the lower side of the display portion independently from
each other. According to this structure, the menu display region is
rendered longer in a vertical direction, and hence the menu can be
displayed in a longitudinal direction. Further, the content display
region is rendered longer in a horizontal direction, and hence the
information of the content is displayed in a transverse direction when
the information of the content is written horizontally such as in
English, for example, whereby the information of the content can be
easily viewed.

[0014] In the aforementioned image receiving apparatus in which the menu
display region is arranged on the side of the display portion while the
content display region is arranged on the upper side or the lower side of
the display portion, the control portion is preferably formed to arrange
the menu display region to extend in a longitudinal direction along the
side of the display portion and arrange the content display region to
extend in a transverse direction along the upper side or the lower side
of the display portion while controlling the menu display region and the
content display region independently from each other. According to this
structure, the menu can be easily displayed in the longitudinal direction
on the menu display region arranged to extend in the longitudinal
direction along the side of the display portion. Further, the information
of the content written horizontally such as in English, for example, can
be easily displayed on the content display region arranged to extend in
the transverse direction along the upper side or the lower side of the
display portion.

[0015] In the aforementioned image receiving apparatus formed to display
the menu display region and the content display region on the display
portion, enlarging or reducing the size of the menu display region and
the size of the content display region independently from each other, the
control portion is preferably formed to control the menu display region
and the content display region independently from each other so as to
display the menu display region, reducing the size of the menu display
region while not displaying the content display region in a standby state
after a function of viewing the content is run on the basis of a user's
operation. According to this structure, the size of the menu display
region is reduced and the menu display region reduced in size is
displayed, and hence the user can easily recognize that the function of
viewing the content is run while the vicinity of an end side of the image
displayed on the display portion is inhibited from being hidden by the
menu display region.

[0016] In this case, the control portion is preferably formed to control
the menu display region and the content display region independently from
each other so as to maintain a state of displaying the menu display
region, reducing the size of the menu display region while enlarging the
size of the content display region to display the content when the
standby state changes to a state where the information of the content can
be viewed on the basis of a user's operation or receipt of updated
information of the content. According to this structure, the size of the
menu display region is reduced and the menu display region reduced in
size is displayed, and hence the information of the content displayed on
the content display region can be viewed while the vicinity of the end
side of the image displayed on the display portion is inhibited from
being hidden by the menu display region.

[0017] In the aforementioned image receiving apparatus in which the
standby state changes to the state where the information of the content
can be viewed on the basis of the user's operation or the receipt of the
updated information of the content, the control portion is preferably
formed to inform a user that updated information of the content has been
received by displaying that on the display portion before the standby
state changes to the state where the information of the content can be
viewed, when the information of the content is updated. According to this
structure, the user can easily recognize that the information of the
content updated in the standby state has been received.

[0018] In the aforementioned image receiving apparatus including the
standby state, the control portion is preferably formed to control the
menu display region and the content display region independently from
each other so as to display the menu, enlarging the size of the menu
display region while not displaying the content display region when the
standby state changes to a state of mode selection for changing the
viewed content on the basis of a user's operation. According to this
structure, the content display region is not displayed, and hence the
user can select or decide from among the menu displayed on the menu
display region while the vicinity of the end side of the image displayed
on the display portion is inhibited from being hidden by the content
display region.

[0019] In this case, the control portion is preferably so formed that a
user can select whether to display the information of the content in
order from the newest one or the oldest one in the state of mode
selection. According to this structure, the information of the content
can be easily arranged in order from the newest one or the oldest one to
be displayed on the content display region.

[0020] In the aforementioned image receiving apparatus including the state
of mode selection, the control portion is preferably formed to control
the menu display region and the content display region independently from
each other so as to display the menu, enlarging the size of the menu
display region and display the information of the content, enlarging the
size of the content display region when either the state where the
information of the content can be viewed or the state of mode selection
changes to a state of displaying both the menu and the information of the
content on the basis of a user's operation. According to this structure,
the user can view the information of the content displayed on the content
display region while selecting or deciding from among the menu displayed
on the menu display region.

[0021] In this case, the control portion is preferably formed to control
the menu display region and the content display region independently from
each other so as to display the information of the content, enlarging the
content display region to an entire display region of the display portion
other than the menu display region when the state of displaying both the
menu and the content changes to a state of displaying the menu display
region and the content display region full-screen on the basis of a
user's operation. According to this structure, a display area of the
content display region is increased as compared with a case where the
content display region is arranged on the end side of the display
portion, and hence more information of the content can be displayed.

[0022] In the aforementioned image receiving apparatus according to the
first aspect, the control portion is preferably formed to control the
menu display region and the content display region independently from
each other so as to change a screen to a state of displaying the menu
display region, reducing a size of the menu display region or a state of
displaying the menu, enlarging a size of the menu display region and
change a state of not displaying the content display region or a state of
displaying the information of the content, enlarging the size of the
content display region when there is no user's operation for a certain
period of time. According to this structure, display states of the menu
display region and the content display region can be changed in a case
where there is no user's operation for a certain period of time, and
hence the user can easily recognize that he/she has not operate the image
receiving apparatus for a certain period of time.

[0023] In this case, the control portion is preferably formed to reduce
the menu display region or the content display region gradually when a
screen changes to the state of displaying the menu display region,
reducing the size of the menu display region or the state of not
displaying the content display region, in a case where there is no user's
operation for a certain period of time. According to this structure, the
menu display region or the content display region is dynamically reduced,
and hence the menu display region or the content display region can
attract attention.

[0024] A liquid crystal television set according to a second aspect of the
present invention comprises a receiving portion for receiving a
television broadcast signal, a display portion displaying an image of the
television broadcast, a communication portion capable of receiving
content through a network, and a control portion controlling a menu
display region on which a menu of the content is displayed and a content
display region on which information of the content is displayed
independently from each other and controlling the display portion to
display the menu display region and the content display region.

[0025] As hereinabove described, the liquid crystal television set
according to the second aspect is provided with the control portion
controlling the menu display region on which the menu of the content is
displayed and the content display region on which the information of the
content is displayed independently from each other and controlling the
display portion to display the menu display region and the content
display region, whereby the information of the content can be displayed
without displaying the menu by the control portion, and hence the
operation for displaying the information of the content can be inhibited
from complication, dissimilarly to a case where the information of the
content is displayed through the menu display region.

[0026] In the aforementioned liquid crystal television set according to
the second aspect, the control portion is preferably formed to display
the menu display region and the content display region on the display
portion, enlarging or reducing a size of the menu display region and a
size of the content display region independently from each other.
According to this structure, the menu display region and the content
display region can be enlarged or reduced separately depending on whether
the menu or the information of the content is displayed, dissimilarly to
a case where the menu display region and the content display region are
enlarged or reduced simultaneously.

[0027] In this case, the control portion is preferably formed to cause the
content display region to emerge gradually while enlarging the size of
the content display region and display updated information of the content
on the content display region when the updated information of the content
is received. According to this structure, the content display region
dynamically emerges, and hence the content display region can be
displayed prominently. Thus, a user can more easily recognize update of
the information of the content.

[0028] In the aforementioned liquid crystal television set formed to
display the menu display region and the content display region on the
display portion, enlarging or reducing the size of the menu display
region and the size of the content display region independently from each
other, the control portion is preferably formed to arrange either the
menu display region or the content display region on a side of the
display portion while arranging either the content display region or the
menu display region on an upper side or a lower side of the display
portion, and display the menu display region and the content display
region on the display portion, enlarging or reducing a length of the menu
display region protruding from an end side of the display portion and a
length of the content display region protruding from an end side of the
display portion independently from each other. According to this
structure, the menu display region and the content display region are
arranged along the end side of the display portion, and hence a central
portion of the image displayed on the display portion can be inhibited
from being hidden by the menu display region and the content display
region. The length of the menu display region protruding from the end
side of the display portion and the length of the content display region
protruding from the end side of the display portion can be enlarged or
reduced separately depending on whether the menu or the information of
the content is displayed, dissimilarly to a case where the length of the
menu display region protruding from the end side of the display portion
and the length of the content display region protruding from the end side
of the display portion are enlarged or reduced simultaneously.

[0029] In this case, the control portion is preferably formed to arrange
the menu display region on the side of the display portion while
arranging the content display region on the upper side or the lower side
of the display portion, and display the menu display region and the
content display region on the display portion, enlarging or reducing a
length of the menu display region protruding from the side of the display
portion and a length of the content display region protruding from the
upper side or the lower side of the display portion independently from
each other. According to this structure, the menu display region is
rendered longer in a vertical direction, and hence the menu can be
displayed in a longitudinal direction. Further, the content display
region is rendered longer in a horizontal direction, and hence the
information of the content is displayed in a transverse direction when
the information of the content is written horizontally such as in
English, for example, whereby the information of the content can be
easily viewed.

[0030] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages
of the present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a liquid crystal television set
and a remote control according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the liquid crystal television set and
the remote control according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen in a both-screen display state
displayed on a display portion of the liquid crystal television set
according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen in a standby state displayed
on the display portion of the liquid crystal television set according to
the embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen in a viewing state displayed
on the display portion of the liquid crystal television set according to
the embodiment of the present invention;

[0036]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen in a mode selection state
displayed on the display portion of the liquid crystal television set
according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen in a full-screen display state
displayed on the display portion of the liquid crystal television set
according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0038]FIG. 8 is a diagram for illustrating a change of a display state of
a screen displayed on the display portion of the liquid crystal
television set according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a first modification of a screen
displayed on the display portion of the liquid crystal television set
according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

[0040]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second modification of a screen
displayed on the display portion of the liquid crystal television set
according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] An embodiment of the present invention is now described with
reference to the drawings.

[0042] First, the structure of an image output system 100 according to an
embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS.
1 to 7.

[0043] The image output system 100 according to this embodiment includes a
liquid crystal television set 200 including a display portion 1 and a
remote control 300 for operating screens 201 to 205, described later,
displayed on the display portion 1 of the liquid crystal television set
200, as shown in FIG. 1. The liquid crystal television set 200 is an
example of the "image receiving apparatus" in the present invention. The
liquid crystal television set 200 further includes an infrared light
receiving portion 2 for communicating with the remote control 300 through
infrared light and a speaker portion 3 generating sounds.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal television set 200 includes
a control portion 4 controlling the overall liquid crystal television set
200. The control portion 4 is connected to the infrared light receiving
portion 2, an external input terminal 6, a network communication portion
7 for receiving content such as weather and news updated in real time
through a network such as the Internet, a receiving portion 9 for
receiving a digital television broadcast signal distributed from a
broadcast station through an antenna 8, an AV selector 10, an AV decoder
11, a sound processing portion 12 and an image processing portion 13
through buses (transmission paths) 5. The network communication portion 7
is an example of the "communication portion" in the present invention.

[0045] The respective portions of the liquid crystal television set 200
are connected with each other through the buses (transmission paths) 5,
to be capable of transferring control signals and control data to each
other. The external input terminal 6, the network communication portion 7
and the receiving portion 9 are connected to the AV selector 10 having a
function of switching input/output of image and sound signals.

[0046] The AV selector 10 is connected to the AV decoder 11 for decoding
the image and sound signals received from the receiving portion 9. The AV
decoder 11 has a function of decoding (the codes of) the image signal and
the sound signal separated by the AV selector 10 and generating image
data and sound data.

[0047] The AV decoder 11 is connected to the sound processing portion 12
processing the sound signal received from the AV decoder 11 and the image
processing portion 13 processing the image signal received from the AV
decoder 11. The sound processing portion 12, controlled by the control
portion 4, has a function of outputting sounds of a digital television
broadcast program or the like to the speaker portion 3 after performing
D/A conversion (digital-to-analog conversion). The image processing
portion 13, controlled by the control portion 4, has a function of
displaying an image of the digital television broadcast program or the
like on the display portion 1.

[0048] According to this embodiment, the display portion 1 is formed to
display the screen 201 including an image display region 201a on which
the image is displayed and a content display region 201c on which
information of the content updated in real time is displayed, as shown in
FIG. 3.

[0049] Icons 1a for selecting or deciding the information of the content
(weather, news or the like) displayed on the content display region 201c
are displayed on a menu display region 201b. These icons 1a are displayed
to correspond to respective pieces of the content. A user operates up and
down buttons of selection buttons 304a on the remote control 300
described later thereby selecting from among the icons 1a and operates a
decision button 304b on the remote control 300 thereby deciding from
among the icons 1a. A cursor 1b is displayed to surround a selected icon
1a.

[0050] When content of "weather" is selected, for example, information
(Osaka, sunny, chance of rain 0%, temperature 25° C./18°
C.) of the content relating to "weather" is displayed on the content
display region 201c. When content of "news" is selected on the menu
display region 201b, information of the content relating to "news" is
displayed on the content display region 201c. A user operates right and
left buttons of the selection buttons 304a on the remote control 300
described later, whereby information of content displayed on the content
display region 201c is switched (a page is scrolled).

[0051] According to this embodiment, the menu display region 201b and the
content display region 201c are displayed on the display portion 1 such
that a width (a length protruding in a direction X2 (horizontal
direction) from an end side (side)) of the menu display region 201b in a
direction X (horizontal direction) and a width (a length protruding in a
direction Y2 (vertical direction) from an end side (lower side)) of the
content display region 201c in a direction Y (vertical direction) are
enlarged or reduced independently from each other on the basis of the
user's operation of the remote control 300 or receipt of the updated
information of the content. The width of the menu display region 201b and
the width of the content display region 201c are enlarged or reduced
independently from each other, whereby the screen 202 in a standby state,
the screen 203 in a viewing state, the screen 204 in a mode selection
state or the screen 205 in a full-screen display state, described later,
is displayed on the display portion 1. As shown in FIG. 3, a state where
both the menu display region 201b and the content display region 201c are
displayed on the display portion 1 is a "both-screen display state".

[0052] The menu display region 201b is arranged on an end side (side) of
the screen 201 in a direction X1 (horizontal direction). The width (the
length protruding in the direction X2 from the end side (side)) of this
menu display region 201b in the direction X is about 15% of a length of
the screen 201 in the X direction. The content display region 201c is
arranged on an end side (lower side) of the screen 201 in a direction Y1
(vertical direction). The width (the length protruding in the direction
Y2 from the end side (lower side)) of this content display region 201c in
the direction Y is about 15% of a length of the screen 201 in the Y
direction. The menu display region 201b and the content display region
201c are arranged to overlap with the image display region 201a displayed
on the display portion 1, and a portion of the image display region 201a
overlapping with the menu display region 201b and the content display
region 201c cannon be viewed.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, a function of viewing content is run on the
basis of the user's operation of a viewing mode button 307 of the remote
control 300 for running a function of viewing content, described later.
In a state (standby state) after the function of viewing content is run,
the screen 202 including an image display region 202a on which the image
is displayed and a menu display region 202b on which the menu is
displayed is displayed on the display portion 1. The menu display region
202b is arranged on an end side (side) of the screen 202 in the direction
X1, and a width of the menu display region 202b in the direction X is
about 3% of a width of the screen 202 in the direction X (horizontal
direction). On the screen 202 in a standby state, a content display
region is not displayed. On the menu display region 202b, the icons 1a
are not displayed.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 5, in a state (viewing state) where information of
the content can be viewed, the screen 203 including an image display
region 203a on which the image is displayed, a menu display region 203b
on which the menu is displayed and a content display region 203c on which
the information of the content updated in real time is displayed is
displayed on the display portion 1. The menu display region 203b is
arranged on an end side (side) of the screen 203 in the direction X1, and
a width of the menu display region 203b in the direction X is about 3% of
a width of the screen 203 in the direction X (horizontal direction). On
the menu display region 203b, the icons 1a are not displayed.

[0055] The content display region 203c is arranged on an end side (lower
side) of the screen 203 in the direction Y1 (vertical direction), and a
width of the content display region 203c in the direction Y (vertical
direction) is about 15% of a width of the screen 203 in the direction Y.
On the content display region 203c, the information of the selected
content is displayed. When the content of news is selected, for example,
the information of the content of news is displayed on the content
display region 203c in order from newly arriving information (the latest
information).

[0056] As shown in FIG. 6, in a state (mode selection state) of mode
selection for changing content, the screen 204 including an image display
region 204a on which the image is displayed and a menu display region
204b on which the menu is displayed is displayed on the display portion
1. The menu display region 204b is arranged on an end side (side) of the
screen 204 in the direction X1 (horizontal direction), and a width of the
menu display region 204 in the direction X is about 15% of a width of the
screen 204 in the direction X (horizontal direction). On the menu display
region 204b, the icons 1a corresponding to the content of weather, news,
etc. are displayed, and the user selects and decides from among the icons
1a, whereby the type of the content can be changed.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 7, in a state (full-screen display state) of
displaying both the menu and the information of the content full-screen,
the screen 205 including a menu display region 205b on which the menu is
displayed and a content display region 205c on which the information of
the content updated in real time is displayed is displayed on the display
portion 1. The menu display region 205b is arranged on an end side (side)
of the screen 205 in the direction X1 (horizontal direction), and a width
of the menu display region 205b in the direction X is about 15% of a
width of the screen 205 in the direction X (horizontal direction). On
this menu display region 205b, the icons 1a corresponding to the content
of weather, news, etc are displayed, and the user selects and decides
from among the icons 1a, whereby the type of the content can be changed.
The screen 205 in a full-screen display state displays the information of
the content while the content display region 205c is enlarged to an
entire display region of the screen 205 other than the menu display
region 205b.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 1, the remote control 300 includes an infrared
light emitting portion 301 for transmitting a signal to the infrared
light receiving portion 2 of the liquid crystal television set 200 when
the user operates the remote control 300, a power supply button 302 for
turning on/off the liquid crystal television set 200, a plurality of
channel selection buttons 303, the four cross-key selection buttons 304a
for selecting display content displayed on the display portion 1, the
decision button 304b for deciding the display content, volume control
buttons 305, channel up/down buttons 306 and the viewing mode button 307
for running the function of viewing content.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 2, the remote control 300 further includes a
control portion 308 controlling the overall remote control 300. The
control portion 308 is connected to the infrared light emitting portion
301, the selection buttons 304a and the decision button 304b.

[0060] The menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b, 205b) is arranged
to extend in a longitudinal direction (direction Y) along a side of the
display portion 1 in the direction X1. The content display region 201c
(203c, 205c) is arranged to extend in a transverse direction (direction
X) along a lower side of the display portion 1 in the direction Y1.

[0061] Next, transitional motion of the menu display regions 201b to 205b
and the content display regions 201c, 203c and 205c of the screens 201 to
205 displayed on the display portion 1 in each state (a standby state, a
viewing state, a mode selection state, a both-screen display state and a
full-screen display state) is described with reference to FIG. 8.

[0062] First, the screen 202 in a standby state is displayed on the
display portion 1 when the function of viewing content is run on the
basis of the user's operation of the remote control 300. At this time, on
the screen 202 in a standby state, the menu display region 202b is
arranged on the end side (side) of the screen 202 in the direction X1 in
a state where the menu display region 202b reduced in width (to a width
of about 3% of the width of the screen 202 in the direction X) is
displayed. When updated information (newly arriving information) of the
content are received in the standby state, a content display region
gradually emerges in the direction Y2 from an end side (lower side) of
the screen 202 in a standby state in the direction Y1 and is displayed
(in animation mode). Thus, the screen 202 in a standby state changes to
the screen 203 in a viewing state. Then, the updated information of the
content is displayed on the content display region 203c of the screen 203
in a viewing state.

[0063] After the entire updated information of the content is displayed on
the screen 203 in a viewing state, the content display region 203c is
gradually reduced in the direction Y1 thereby being hidden in a case
where there is no user's operation for a certain period of time, so that
the screen 203 in a viewing state changes to the screen 202 in a standby
state.

[0064] When the user operates the remote control 300 at the time of
display of the screen 203 in a viewing state, the menu display region
201b gradually emerges in the direction X2 from the end side (side) of
the screen 203 in the direction X1 and is enlarged (to a width of about
15% of a width of the screen 201 in the direction X (horizontal
direction)). Thus, the screen 203 in a viewing state changes to the
screen 201 in a both-screen display state. Then, the icons 1a
corresponding to the respective pieces of the content are displayed on
the menu display region 201b.

[0065] At the time of display of the screen 201 in a both-screen display
state, the user selects or decides from among the icons 1a displayed on
the menu display region 201b, whereby content displayed on the content
display region 201c or display format of content (displaying content from
that exhibiting the latest update date, that exhibiting the oldest one or
the like) can be changed. When updated information of the content is
received at the time of display of the screen 201 in a both-screen
display state, the updated information (newly arriving information) of
the content is displayed on the content display region 201c. In a case
where there is no user's operation for a certain period of time, the menu
display region 201b is gradually restored in the direction X1 thereby
being reduced (to a width of about 3% of the width of the screen 201 in
the direction X), so that the screen 201 in a both-screen display state
changes to the screen 203 in a viewing state.

[0066] When the user operates the remote control 300 at the time of
display of the screen 202 in a standby state, the menu display region
204b gradually emerges in the direction X2 from the end side (side) of
the screen 202 in the direction X1 and is enlarged (to a width of about
15% of the width of the screen 204 in the direction X (horizontal
direction)). Thus, the screen 202 in a standby state changes to the
screen 204 in a mode selection state. Then, the icons 1a corresponding to
the respective pieces of the content are displayed on the menu display
region 204b.

[0067] At the time of display of the screen 204 in a mode selection state,
the user selects or decides from among the icons 1a displayed on the menu
display region 204b, whereby content displayed on a content display
region or display format of content (displaying content from that
exhibiting the latest update date, that exhibiting the oldest one or the
like) can be changed. In a case where there is no user's operation for a
certain period of time, the menu display region 204b is gradually
restored in the direction X1 thereby being reduced (to a width of about
3% of the width of the screen 204 in the direction X (horizontal
direction)), so that the screen 204 in a mode selection state changes to
the screen 202 in a standby state.

[0068] When information of content is changed or update of information of
content is confirmed in response to the user's operation of the remote
control 300 at the time of display of the screen 204 in a mode selection
state, the content display region 201c gradually emerges in the direction
Y2 from an end side (lower side) of the screen 204 in the direction Y1
and is displayed. Thus, the screen 204 in a mode selection state changes
to the screen 201 in a both-screen display state. After the updated
information of the content is displayed on the content display region
201c of the screen 201 in a both-screen display state, the content
display region 201c is gradually reduced in the direction Y1 thereby
being hidden in a case where there is no user's operation for a certain
period of time, so that the screen 201 in a both-screen display state
changes to the screen 204 in a mode selection state.

[0069] When the menu display region 201b and the content display region
201c are switched to full-screen display in response to the user's
operation of the remote control 300 at the time of display of the screen
201 in a both-screen display state, the content display region 201c is
gradually enlarged in the direction Y2 from the end side (lower side) of
the screen 201 in the direction Y1. Thus, the screen 201 in a both-screen
display state changes to the screen 205 in a full-screen display state.
Then, the content display region 205c is enlarged to a display region of
the display portion 1 other than the menu display region 205b and
displayed. When the full-screen display state is terminated in response
to the user's operation of the remote control 300, the content display
region 205c is gradually reduced in the direction Y1 (to a width of about
15% of a width of the screen 205 in the direction Y), so that the screen
205 in a full-screen display state changes to the screen 201 in a
both-screen display state.

[0070] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the image
output system 100 is provided with the control portion 4 controlling the
menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b, 205b) on which the menu of
the content is displayed and the content display region 201c (203c, 205c)
on which the information of the content is displayed independently from
each other and controlling the display portion 1 to display the menu
display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b, 205b) and the content display
region 201c (203c, 205c), whereby the information of the content can be
displayed without displaying the menu by the control portion 4, and hence
the operation for displaying the information of the content can be
inhibited from complication, dissimilarly to a case where the information
of the content is displayed through the menu display region 201b (202b,
203b, 204b, 205b).

[0071] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the control
portion 4 displays the menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b, 205b)
and the content display region 201c (203c, 205c) on the display portion
1, enlarging or reducing the width of the menu display region 201b (202b,
203b, 204b, 205b) and the width of the content display region 201c (203c,
205c) independently from each other, whereby the menu display region 201b
(202b, 203b, 204b, 205b) and the content display region 201c (203c, 205c)
can be enlarged or reduced separately depending on whether the menu or
the information of the content is displayed, dissimilarly to a case where
the menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b, 205b) and the content
display region 201c (203c, 205c) are enlarged or reduced simultaneously.

[0072] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, when
receiving the updated information of the content, the control portion 4
causes the content display region 201c (203c, 205c) to emerge gradually
while enlarging the width of the content display region 201c (203c, 205c)
and displays the updated information of the content on the content
display region 201c (203c, 205c), whereby the content display region 201c
(203c, 205c) dynamically emerges, and hence the content display region
201c (203c, 205c) can be displayed prominently. Thus, the user can more
easily recognize update of the information of the content.

[0073] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the control
portion 4 arranges the menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b, 205b)
on the end side (side) of the display portion 1 in the direction X1 while
arranging the content display region 201c (203c, 205c) on the end side
(lower side) of the display portion 1 in the direction Y1 and displays
the menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b, 205b) and the content
display region 201c (203c, 205c) on the display portion 1, enlarging or
reducing a length of the menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b,
205b) in the direction X protruding from the end side (side) of the
display portion 1 in the direction X1 and a length of the content display
region 201c (203c, 205c) in the direction Y protruding from the end side
(lower side) of the display portion 1 in the direction Y1 independently
from each other, whereby the menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b,
205b) is rendered longer in the vertical direction, and hence the menu
can be displayed in the longitudinal direction (direction Y). Further,
the content display region 201c (203c, 205c) is rendered longer in the
horizontal direction, and hence the information of the content is
displayed in the transverse direction (direction X (horizontal
direction)) when the information of the content is written horizontally
such as in English, for example, whereby the information of the content
can be easily viewed.

[0074] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the control
portion 4 arranges the menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b, 205b)
to extend in the longitudinal direction (direction Y) along the side of
the display portion 1 in the direction X1 and arranges the content
display region 201c (203c, 205c) to extend in the transverse direction
(direction X) along the lower side of the display portion 1 in the
direction Y1 while controlling the content display region 201c (203c,
205c) and the menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b, 205b)
independently from each other. Thus, the menu can be easily displayed in
the longitudinal direction (direction Y) on the menu display region 201b
(202b, 203b, 204b, 205b) arranged to extend in the longitudinal direction
(direction Y) along the side of the display portion 1 in the direction
X1. Further, the information of the content written horizontally such as
in English, for example, can be easily displayed on the content display
region 201c (203c, 205c) arranged to extend in the transverse direction
(direction X) along the lower side of the display portion 1 in the
direction Y1.

[0075] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, in the
standby state after the function of viewing the content is run on the
basis of the user's operation, the control portion 4 displays the menu
display region 202b, reducing the width of the menu display region 202b
while not displaying the content display region, whereby the width of the
menu display region 202b is reduced and the menu display region 202b
reduced in width is displayed, and hence the user can easily recognize
that the function of viewing the content is run while the vicinity of an
end side of the image displayed on the display portion 1 is inhibited
from being hidden by the menu display region 202b.

[0076] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, when the
standby state changes to the state where the information of the content
can be viewed on the basis of the user's operation or the receipt of the
updated information of the content, the control portion 4 maintains a
state of displaying the menu display region 203b, reducing the width of
the menu display region 203b while enlarging the width of the content
display region 203c to display the content, whereby the width of the menu
display region 203b is reduced and the menu display region 203b reduced
in width is displayed, and hence the information of the content displayed
on the content display region 203c can be viewed while the vicinity of
the end side of the image displayed on the display portion 1 is inhibited
from being hidden by the menu display region 203b.

[0077] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, when the
information of the content is updated, the control portion 4 informs the
user that the updated information of the content has been received by
displaying that on the display portion 1 before the standby state changes
to the state where the information of the content can be viewed, whereby
the user can easily recognize that the information of the content updated
in the standby state has been received.

[0078] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, when the
standby state changes to the state of mode selection for changing the
viewed content on the basis of the user's operation, the control portion
4 enlarges the width of the menu display region 204b to display the menu
while not displaying the content display region, whereby the content
display region is not displayed, and hence the user can select or decide
from among the menu displayed on the menu display region 204b while the
vicinity of the end side of the image displayed on the display portion 1
is inhibited from being hidden by the content display region.

[0079] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the user
can select whether to display the information of the content in order
from the newest one or the oldest one in the state of mode selection,
whereby the information of the content can be easily arranged in order
from the newest one or the oldest one to be displayed on the content
display region 201c (203c, 205c).

[0080] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, when either
the state where the information of the content can be viewed or the state
of mode selection changes to a state of displaying both the menu and the
information of the content on the basis of the user's operation, the
control portion 4 enlarges the width of the menu display region 201b to
display the menu while enlarging the width of the content display region
201c to display the information of the content, whereby the user can view
the information of the content displayed on the content display region
201c while selecting or deciding from among the menu displayed on the
menu display region 201b.

[0081] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, when the
state of displaying both the menu and the content changes to the state of
displaying the menu display region 205b and the content display region
205c full-screen on the basis of the user's operation, the control
portion 4 enlarges the content display region 205c to the entire display
region of the display portion 1 other than the menu display region 205b
and displaying the information of the content, whereby a display area of
the content display region 205c is increased as compared with a case
where the content display region 205c is arranged on the end side of the
display portion 1, and hence more information of the content can be
displayed.

[0082] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the control
portion 4 controls the menu display region and the content display region
independently from each other so as to change the screen to the state of
displaying the menu display region, reducing the size of the menu display
region or a state of displaying the menu, enlarging the size of the menu
display region and change the screen to a state of not displaying the
content display region or a state of displaying the information of the
content, enlarging the size of the content display region when there is
no user's operation for a certain period of time. Thus, display states of
the menu display region 201b (202b, 203b, 204b, 205b) and the content
display region 201c (203c, 205c) can be changed in a case where there is
no user's operation for a certain period of time, and hence the user can
easily recognize that he/she has not operate the remote control for a
certain period of time.

[0083] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, in a case
where there is no user's operation for a certain period of time, the
control portion 4 reduces the menu display region 202b (203b) or the
content display region gradually when changing the screen to the state of
displaying the menu display region 202b (203b), reducing the size of the
menu display region 202b (203b) or the state of not displaying the
content display region. Thus, the menu display region 202b (203b) or the
content display region is dynamically reduced, and hence the menu display
region 202b (203b) or the content display region can attract attention.

[0085] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated
in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of
illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of
limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited
only by the terms of the appended claims.

[0086] For example, while the liquid crystal television set is employed as
the example of the image receiving apparatus according to the present
invention in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not
restricted to this. The image receiving apparatus may alternatively be
applied to an STB (set-top box), a DVD recorder or the like other than
the liquid crystal television set, for example. In this case, a display
portion for displaying the screen including the menu display region and
the content display region may be connected to the STB or the DVD
recorder.

[0087] While the information of the content is automatically displayed on
the content display region without requiring the user's operation in the
viewing state when the updated information of the content is received in
the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to
this. The user may alternatively be informed that the updated information
of the content has been received by displaying a message, "new
information received" on a screen 206 before the standby state changes to
the state where the information of the content can be viewed, when the
updated information of the content is received, as in a modification of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, for example.

[0088] While the portion of the image display region overlapping with the
menu display region and the content display region cannon be viewed in
the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to
this. A portion of an image display region 207a overlapping with a menu
display region 207b and a content display region 207c may alternatively
be viewable by displaying the menu display region 207b and the content
display region 207c transparently as in a modification of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 10, for example. The degree of transparency of the menu
display region 207b and the content display region 207c may be
arbitrarily user-settable.

[0089] While the menu display region is arranged on the end side (side) of
the screen in the direction X1, and the content display region is
arranged on the end side (lower side) of the screen in the direction Y1
in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not restricted
to this. For example, the menu display region may alternatively be
arranged on an end side (side) of the screen in the direction X2, and the
content display region may alternatively be arranged on an end side
(upper side) of the screen in the direction Y2.

[0090] While the information of the content relating to "weather" and
"news" is displayed on the content display region in the aforementioned
embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this. For example,
information relating to "SNS (Social Network Services)", which is a
community type website, may alternatively be displayed on the content
display region.

[0091] While the menu display region is displayed with a width of about 3%
or about 15% of the width of the screen, and the content display region
is displayed with a width of about 15% or 100% (full-screen) of the width
of the screen in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is
not restricted to this. In the present invention, the menu display region
may alternatively be displayed with a width other than a width of about
3% or about 15% of the width of the screen, and the content display
region may alternatively be displayed with a width other than a width of
about 15% or 100% of the width of the screen.

[0092] While the function of viewing the content is run on the basis of
the user's operation of the viewing mode button of the remote control in
the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to
this. For example, the image output system may alternatively be so formed
that the user can previously set the image output system to run the
function of viewing the content simultaneously with turning on the liquid
crystal television set.

Patent applications by Yusuke Takenaka, Daito-Shi JP

Patent applications by Funai Electric Co., Ltd.

Patent applications in class Simultaneously and on same screen (e.g., multiscreen)

Patent applications in all subclasses Simultaneously and on same screen (e.g., multiscreen)